Monday, November 13, 2017

I use the hashtag “love you” a lot. I wonder often if people mistake what I am
actually saying. It is not a statement,
but rather a command. I am calling you
to action.

But do you head the call?
If you are like most people, no.
Why is that? Sure, sure, sure you
spout all the well intended quotes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup” but
let’s be honest, do you follow through?
And who pours from a cup anyway?!

No you don’t. You
intend to right? Why is it so hard? Well
lets flip that over and take a good old look-see. You have lots of demands. Could be work, kids, family, spouse, friends,
cleaning, cooking, life! How does one
fit in the time for themselves? Fair
enough argument. Time is limited. You can only do so much in a day. However, let me punt back that argument. Why is any of that more important than you?
Especially cleaning! I mean seriously
Betty, put the feather duster down!

So the time argument doesn’t really hold up. So maybe you say, “I mean too, but my day
gets away from me and I run out of time.”
Okay legit. But why did you put
self care at the end of the day and not the beginning? If you really are committed to self care, do
it first. Start your day off right!
Right?

“I can’t do it in the morning, I don’t have time. Mornings are too hectic!” Ehhh –hem.
Alarm clocks have been around since 1787 (I know right?!) set your clock
20 minutes early and do something for yourself.

But… but. Yep. I thought so.
So I have knocked holes in all your arguments, but that doesn’t really
help answer why it is so hard. The
reality is, I don’t know. But what I do
know, is that it is pretty critical. We
run and we run and we do and we do and collapse at the end of the day and
sometimes we love our lives but often we just don’t. We don’t hate it. But we sure don’t love it. And that is not
fair on so many levels.

What if you had 10 minutes every day. Every single day that fed you? Sure would you still run and run, but at
least you could think when your head is spinning and you can’t think
straight…”in just 2 hours I can…” And
self care can look totally different to different people. For me it would be a long hot bath, yoga or
meditation. For someone else it would be
a walk in the woods. For my husband it
is a run. Self care can be anything
that makes you feel joy. And feeling
joy… isn’t that the point of all of this? Really?

What if even you didn’t put yourself at the top of the list
but you at least got on the list? Just.Got.On.The. Damn.List. Radical.
I know. It feels all kinds of itchy right? But… but.
Yeah. I know, but I don’t know why.

But what I would tell you is that you should be your own
best friend or your own mother. If you
have a child imagine your child, if you don’t, imagine the person you love the
very very most in this world.

This person is overwhelmed to the brink of tears. You see them stressed and frustrated. You see
how hard they are working to take care of all their obligations. You worry for them. It all seems a bit too much. Then they say, “You know I am going
to….” You think, “Thank God! They really
should do something for themselves! They
need a break.” And then later they say,
“Never mind, I don’t have time.” What would you say to them? I want you to imagine sitting face to face,
knee to knee with that person holding their hands looking them dead in the eye. What would you say?

I know what I would say.
I would say, “Oh my sweet angle.
Stop. Stop right now. None of this matters! I know it feels like the world will fall
apart if you don’t get your homework (or whatever) done. But lets imagine the worst case
scenario. The worst case scenario is you
don’t do it. What happens then? Does the world end? Do I love you any less? Does daddy? Do your friends love you less? No. So if the world does not end and no one loves
you any less, can that thing that has you are so stressed about really be worth
more than YOU? “

So figure out what you would say. Then write that shit DOWN. And every time you try to opt out of self
care pull it out and look at it. When
you do, imagine the person that loves you most in the world is saying it to
you, knee to knee, holding your hand, looking your right in the eye. And by god…LISTEN.

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Lavandula
Officinalis, or Lavender for most folks, has been used for over 2000
years. We know that Egyptians used it in their mummification processes and
urns of its remains were found in pyramids.
It was used by the Greeks as a perfume and began to be used medicinally.
It has been used to treat headaches, burns, minor cuts to various skin ailments. It is also used as an insect repellant.

Lavender
uses steam distillation of the Lavender flower heads to derive the essential
oil. The essential oil is a thin consistency
and is dark yellow to a greenish yellow.
It is a Middle Note, that is floral with a woody undertone.

Precautions:
Do not use if you are pregnant.
Always dilute before using on skin.

In my experience with Lavender is one is all in or
all out. I have never met someone that
sits the fence with lavender. It is among
my favorite essential oils to work with.
While it is said to be excellent for eczema and chapped skin, I am leery
of it for those uses. While it promotes
sebum production which should aid handily in with those issues, if you have
sensitive skin, like I do, I could serve to irritate more than benefit. I would caution to start with a very small
amount (1-2) drops in 2 oz of carrier oil or butter and see how it works. If you notice no irritation you might
increase to 4 drops. I would not
recommend ever putting directly on your skin and be extra careful with the skin
on the face.

My favorite use for Lavender is baths before
bed. Seriously for me, this equates to
the best night sleep ever. Depending on
the state of my skin it use it to scent salts (mix of Himalayan and Epsom or to
make a bath oil, and shhhh don’t tell anyone, sometimes both!

So here are two recipes for you to enjoy. If you make them comment with changes you
suggest or how you liked them (or how well you slept!!). You can also tell me
if you are a Tempranillo fan or prefer another elixir J

Bath Salts

2 cups total salt.
If you only use one type of salt make
it Epsom. Epsom salt is a great source
of magnesium and has a whole slew of benefits (I see another blog post coming!)
. Other salts have their own good
properties but as a standalone none beat Epsom in my opinion.

1 cup baking soda.
This is optional but if you have it or even have a little add it
in. Baking soda helps regulate the PH of skin and it gives the
water a sumptuous silky feel. It is
totally indulgent.

4-5 drops of Lavender (or mix of lavender and another e.o. My favorite oils to mix with lavender are cedarwood
and grapefruit. I highly recommend
cedarwood if you want a calming
grounding feeling. Grapefruit has
lavender take on a peppery aroma. It is strangely
calming and invigorating if that can be accomplished!

Mix well and pour the entire contents in a warm
bath. Soak for as long and you
stand. I find a big old glass of wine
and a decent book round out this heavenly experience. If you are not a drinker try some chamomile tea.

Bath Oil

¼ cup of any good carrier oil. Olive oil is always an easy go to and an
excellent choice. If you want something
more hydrating and have access to avocado oil, try that.

4-5 drops of
lavender oil or any blend (see above)
mix well.

I recommend adding this to your bath after you are
already in it. Many people have asked me
how bath oil is beneficial other than it smells nice. I say, “Great question!” The reality is basic chemistry lets us know
oil and water do not mix, So how can
this help hydrate skin (which is the real reason we use bath oil. The scent is
really just for pleasure). While you are
sitting in your bath contemplating the meaning of life or how you lived so long
without knowing the joy of a good Tempranillo, your skins pores are opening and
your skin is getting nice and soft. When
you have finally had enough sitting still or perhaps have exhausted that glass of
Tempranillo, you stand to get out of the bath (be careful!) and all that lovely oil adheres to your skin
as your body rises from underneath the water to out of the water. It is made ideal by having these hydrating
oils on your skin at the exact moment you skin is most ready to accept moister. So prior to drying off, rub it in and then
towel off.

I
really would recommend both the salts and oil if you can manage it. If you do, though, only add essential oils to
one, not both.

Finally
let me say this, in remaining consistent to our brand and brand philosophy of
Love You let me address the real nuts and bolts of using essential oils or
taking a luxurious bath. Use of any
essential oil has its benefits. I mean
they are yummy things. But the bigger
benefit comes from, I believe, taking the time for you. It is a bold intention. You put the love and time into making the oil
or salts or both. You give yourself the time
to sit and read or contemplate quietly.
This is HUGE. That is the
biggest healing power of any of this.
The lavender oil and salts are bonus.
The time you take for yourself is primary. Enjoy . Every. Last. Second.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Lets start by clarifying not all eczema is created equal. Not even close. Most of the remedies I suggest are targeted to mild to moderate flair ups. No matter the type though, eczema stinks. There are natural and effective ways, however, to treat and relieve eczema. It took me years to figure out something that worked to help with my son’s eczema. I have put together a cheat sheet I hope will help you and save you some of the time and frustration we dealt with.

What is Eczema and What Causes It?

Eczema is a chronic skin condition in which the skin becomes itchy, reddened, cracked and dry. It can be caused by an allergy or external irritant however, often the cause is unknown.

Where Should I Start?

There is no easy answer to this. There are different things to consider. Is the patients eczema sever or mild. If it is mild using quality skin products might be all that is needed. However, if it is a moderate to sever case it is really important to try and determine the cause. You can see an allergist for testing and/or try an elimination diet at home to see if it is food allergy or sensitivity.

I am a big believer that we have more food sensitivities than we often think. Eating foods that irritates our body causes inflammation within the body. That inflammation can take a toll in many ways, one being eczema. The best products in the world will not help if you keep fueling the cause of the inflammation.

Here is a great article on elimination diets and what to do. Detox diets are another great option and I will write more on that later.

7 Things to Avoid to Prevent or Help a Flair Up?

Avoid prolonged periods in hot water

Avoid, rubbing the skin after a shower/bath. Instead pat dry

Avoid harsh soaps and solvents. Particularly ones with Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Propylene glycol, and fragrance. (*Note it is hard to find cleaners free of these. Sweet Cheeks makes a bath gel that is suitable but castile also works well)

Avoid know allergens if possible. If you have seasonal allergies try a Neti Pot

What About Home Remedies?

I would love nothing more than for you to purchase lots of our products! However, I also know that there is no cure all for something like eczema. Nothing thrills us more than the letters and e-mails we receive from customers telling us how well our product has worked and how thankful they are for it!

That said, I also understand wanting to test some basic remedies first. The very first thing I would recommend is stop putting anything on your body that contains mineral oil. It is a double whammy for eczema. It blocks moisture from entering the skin (which is what you want to happen with eczema) all the while that oily layer that sits on top, leaches moisture out of your skin. There really is nothing worse for it. From there I would try to get as gentle a soap as possible. We even went to a 2 part baking soda to 1 part water mixture for a month. Those two steps, for us…were world changers. Give it about two weeks. I would also recommend a quality moisturizer. Yes, we make them, and there are many reasons I can tell you why ours are so good for eczema. However, in a pinch you can use olive oil or even better unrefined coconut oil to start with.

What Sweet Cheeks products work best for Eczema?

First, our bath gel is great. It is a castile base that has coconut oil and shea added to help counter the stripping effects soap has to skin. However, if you don’t use our products please find a cleaner that does not contain the ingredients listed above in the “What Should I Avoid” section.

Second the body butter or solid moisturizer. I would recommend unscented, especially if you are having a bad flair up. You can also do a combination of the solid after you shower and then keep a small tin of the butter to spot treat.

In another article I will be profiling some eczema treatment products so stay tuned.

- See more at: http://sweetcheeksallnatural.com/eczema-relief/#sthash.YmBhblrS.dpuf

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

We experienced huge growth in 2014 and have outgrown our space. So we have launched an indiegogo campaign to help us revamp a new space. Please consider checking it out, and sharing! As alwasy...thank you for your support!!

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Not so long ago I had some pictures taken for the
business. The one we ended up using, was
of a woman, about my age. The photo we
used was of her laughing, head thrown
back, eyes twinkling with joy, set against a bleak winter day. It
was fantastic.

Before we settled on a picture the guy that took my photos
came over one day and we were picking which photo to use. Once settled upon, he then uses his Photoshop magic to change the
lighting a bit, and create shadows that did not exist in the original photo. It was really cool. Then he took this app that looked like an eraser
and starts to take her smile lines away.

“Put those back!” I snapped.

He stopped. Likely a
bit stunned. And I simply said, “Leave
them. I like them.”

The reality is we chose a woman in her late 30’s early 40’s
for a reason. However, I think he and I did not agree on the reason.

His idea, was to erase the hands of time so that other women
will look at her, realize her age and think on some level, “How does her skin
look so good? Sweet Cheeks of course!”

Aside from, as a women, being tired of being lied to with pictures, I don’t really think
I knew what my idea was until that moment. But
there it was plain as day. I love
wrinkles. I love the story they
tell. I love that every time this woman
laughed too loud at a joke or cried too hard over a love not worth it, it was on
her face. I loved that the joy in the birth
of her babies, was in the folds of her “worry lines.” I love the way her smile lines highlighted her
eyes and invited you to laugh with her.
Simply, she was stunning not despite her lines, but (in part at least)
because of them. Her lines are a map of
where she has been. I map of who she was
and what it took to become who she is. They
a map that outlines the story of her life.

However, if I am honest…really honest, I don’t see my own
lines that way. I see every failure in
them. Every harsh word I spoke in anger. Every extra cookie (not needed ), every pound
lost and put on and lost again, and again and again. I see, “you are not pretty”, “nor good enough”,
“nor special.” I see mostly, “you are not worthy.” Worthy of
what? You fill in the blank.

And I realized why I use “anti-aging” products. It is not to get rid of the lines of my
life. No, not at all really. It is simply to get my lines to tell a different
story. I use it somehow so that when
you see my lines you will see in them, the time I picked up the spider and put him
outside despite feeling like I would throw up from fear, the time I wanted to yell at my husband
because I felt sad/angry/scared, but found the strength to share how vulnerable
I was feeling, the time I got it right…every time I managed to get it
right. I want you to see what a good
friend I try be, and how much I love my family.
I want you to see despite being imperfect, how hard I try. I want you to see my light and joy and inherent
goodness. I want you to see that I am
worthy. Worthy of what? You fill in the blank.

And there it is.
Please, please evening primrose… make me worthy.

So we kept her wrinkles. Because it was honest, and honestly
beautiful. And she was worthy. We are all worthy.

And the next time I looked in the mirror and felt the surge
of disappointment in my lines. I felt
the shame of “not good enough.” I looked
a little deeper. And I realized that my
lines might very well tell the truth of my imperfection, but they also tell the
truth of my moments of perfection.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Richmond,
VA – January 27, 2014 – Sweet Cheeks All
Natural Bath & Body, Richmond-based purveyors of all natural, bath and body
products, will take over the second floor of Orange, a Carytown boutique, for
their first-ever pop-up shop beginning Tuesday, January 28. An open house is scheduled this Thursday,
January 30 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. to celebrate and welcome guests with
refreshments and the area’s only ‘bath bar’, where customers can create and
customize their own bath salts and bath bombs. The pop up shop will run for
three weeks, closing February 16.

Sweet Cheeks All Natural’s new store will
carry a variety of bath and body products for men, women and children. The
entire line is all natural, paraben free, and eco-friendly, with many of the
ingredients sourced locally.

“We’re attempting to gauge the level of
interest Richmonders have in a luxury bath and body shop. The pop up is fun,
plus it gives us a front-seat opportunity to meet and educate consumers about
the true meaning of all natural, eco-friendly, and green bath and body products
and why they’re important,” says Vanessa
McCauley, owner of Sweet Cheeks All Natural.

McCauley was inspired by her children’s--and
her own--sensitive skin issues. After trying numerous products and remedies, McCauley
created Sweet Cheeks All Natural with the mission to create products that were
not only safe for her family, but safe for the planet.

About
Sweet Cheeks All Natural

Vanessa McCauley began Sweet Cheeks All
Natural after becoming frustrated with the lack of options for her son’s severe
eczema. Setting out on a mission
to find something to provide relief without a list of scary side effects,
McCauley’s search was fruitless. That’s when she created what was needed—and
was better—herself. Beginning with Baby Butter (a soothing moisturizing cream
for babies), the line now includes a full-range of bath and body products and
candles.

Free of parabens, petroleums, and
preservatives, Sweet Cheeks All Natural products are made from the finest
plant-based oils and natural ingredients.
All Sweet Cheeks products are gentle to the body and to the earth, using
earth friendly packaging and minimal secondary packaging.